Moving to spain

Hello, where to start getting medical cover for NLV with pre exisiting medical conditions?

I've lived in Spain and it's fine. Obviously all the ups and downs of being an immigrant and needing to learn a new language asap to properly assimilate.

But I was also a non-EU immigrant like you would be and I wouldn't do it again. Hard, hard slog. Brexit really fucked you all over, and everyone wants to move to the EU. You'd be better off choosing any other non-EU country and trying your luck there.

What about the fact that after three months away from the U.K. you are no longer entitled to to free NHS care, or do you go for less than that each time?

@SeatonCarew I 100% agree- as I mentioned below I have friends who do it around 24 weeks a year split into 4 lots of 6 weeks at a time to fit the Brexit situation as they aren't EU.. They avoid July and August and get some great rentals and go all over- they downsized considerably in UK at same time but have their taxes and business interests in UK - it costs them around £14k a year but they feel it's giving them a double life and their bank interest on not buying anywhere is covering that.

I'm writing this from our second home in Spain. We spend 5-6 months here, EU spouse but don't want to spend over half a year here and be liable to Spanish tax (other than our property taxes of course), as our affairs are set up for UK.

I second many of the issues and problems others have highlighted OP. At your age and stage of life you would severely affect your family's prospects by moving over here. It's as hot as hell in the south in summer, we never plan to be here in July and August because it can hit 50 degrees where we are, and we have the option of not being here.

On the other hand, it's a fab place to have a bolthole when you are approaching or have entered retirement. Find the right spot and you will find a host of people who don't work any more and are up for meeting new people and having a load of fun. It's the best! At your stage of life, it is fraught with difficulty.

My advice as a northern European is to work hard now and plan for the future. If you can afford a little flat or something in the meantime, maybe buy that. There are still some bargains to be had, though they're going fast. Good luck. 😊🌴🌞

Edited to add Murcia province is up and coming fast, and prices can still be v reasonable.

Have a look at Move to Spain on FB.
Tons of info on different visas, schooling, property, etc.

Sorry!

My post was to @NineDaysQueen

Why are people pulling me up for using the word - I was making a joke, quoting someone else's post!

Reading back,I see what you mean!

It also refers to the platonic ideal of something—basically, perfection.

Well, aren’t you rude?

They were mid teens when we moved, as I said in my original post. Why would I put them in a non English school with zero Spanish at 14+ years old? All 3 did 5 lessons of Spanish a week at their school, and extra lessons after school. Two did Spanish at AS level. Two dropped it in year 13. One is doing it as her 4th A level, and doing night classes twice a week. One is at university and having dropped it as her 4th A level, is taking night classes while studying medicine. I am super proud of them for having done so well, landing here and knowing none. I’m super proud of them for integrating so well at a school where pretty much every kid was bi-lingual and Spanish was the dominant language in the playground. 2 of them have Spanish best friends. Collectively they have a friend group hailing from Spain, Argentina, Chile, the US, Algeria, the UK, Germany, China, and loads more.

Oh, and I’m not British.

Anything else you’d like to be a dick about?

Wow, what difference responses here in comparison with recent 'immigrant' threads.

I agree. It’s a pipe dream with no substance.

We’ve got NI numbers so can move there and are giving it serious thought.

You just can't compare a holiday destination with regular neighbourhoods. There is crime, litter and no police in sight outside of the tourist hotspots as you would expect to find in the UK.

Forgot to add that this was all pre brexit. My plans of retirement back there are now pretty much scuppered!

Your point is valid - live to work, boring tedious repetitive lifestyle etc. Spain isn’t the answer. But there will be an answer- move somewhere cheaper and be mortgage free, start a family business, move elsewhere in world where cost of living is much less…

Way to integrate. Send your kids to a British school.
This is what many ex-pats do, yet hate it when immgrants do the same here
British people remain very much 'do as I say, not as I do' in their collective attitude

I lived in Spain for years. Yes there is a better life balance generally but overall it’s the same shit in a different place

Platonic??
That's a non-sexual relationship!

Do you think other countries will be welcoming you as migrants with the same attitude the UK's?

Sorry, I replied without seeing your question!

I moved about 12 years ago for a little adventure because I was bored of my dead end job in a Coventry call center, but never went home! It was easy because it was pre Brexit, and because the idea was to go for a year, I didn’t put much thought into it at all!

Then when DC were born, it made sense to stay here where paternity leave is 4 months and nursery is free. We moved back to England for 6 months (to beautiful Cambridge and had the most idyllic time there) but the work life balance (lack of) we experienced there sealed the deal and we bought our flat in Spain shortly after. My DHs English boss there didn’t get the whole “but it’s sunny so obviously we’ll leave work at 3pm today” thing!!

If I could choose anywhere, I’d probably go near Madrid. All other regions (including mine!) have a third language which makes things very hard for incomers, or is too hot!

Not Spain but I lived in Cyprus for 10 years. If you don't speak the language fluently then your options are really working in a holiday resort which is somewhat seasonal. Even if you find a year round job it's likely you'd be working far longer hours through the summer and not enjoying any of the lifestyle that you imagine and weather not really warm enough to do so in winter when it's quieter. 9-5 Monday to Friday is a breeze in comparison! I moved back in time for my eldest starting school and although I miss certain aspects I'd say it's altogether a better balance here with more opportunities, especially given DC's interests (although perhaps Spain has far more than Cyprus). Also look at the schooling system I struggled with not speaking the language fluently and that was just at nursery level - they already got homework and lines to learn for plays that I couldn't much help with. Formal school is started later as is often mentioned here as a benefit, but nursery is far more formal and once it does start it's very intense. Little to know fun or creative side. Of dc don't pass the year they stay back and re sit rather then move up with their peers. Dc are both dyslexic and this wouldn't have suited them at all! Lots more to think about than just the sun in the sky!